Sunday, September 15, 2013

Our Wedding

29 years ago today this happened.
I'm all smiles.  I laughed through the entire ceremony.

 My veil didn't make it to the picture taking.  My mom was still sewing on it as I drove myself to the church for my own wedding.  My dress I purchased off the rack on sale much to my mother-in-law's dismay.  In my shoe was $500.00 that my father handed me just as he was walking me down the aisle to pay for the flowers.   As I stood at the alter I looked at the flowers. Gladiolas. The only flower I asked them NOT to use.   They remind me of funerals.  So naturally that's what they used. That's when the laughter started.

 The day before at the rehearsal bbq my mother  introduced herself as part of the catering company.  At the actual rehearsal she yelled at the priest that she simply could not sit in the same pew as her ex-husband.  The best man whose one job was to gather music for the reception forgot.  "Celebrate" was the only cassette  the reception site had. Later when I looked at our wedding photos I realized the photographer, a personal friend of my mother in law, neglected to take any photos of my family.  Or many of me for that matter.  Almost all the photos are of Bill.  He does look pretty fabulous.  I can see why he'd be enamored.

Here's Bill with some laughing woman.  
We were young then.  I was 24 and he was just 22.  Both our mothers did everything to keep us from gettting married. From his mother's perspective:   I came from a divorced family.  Never attended college.  I would never fit in socially, intellectually, or any other "ly" with Bill and his friends.  My mother just never wanted me to leave her.  Ever.  Somehow things work themselves out. Maybe these are just life lessons that prepare us for our own children getting married.  Our son is marrying in November.   It is difficult to keep your opinions to yourself when watching your children plan their wedding.  At times I'm not sure I've fared much better than my own mother or mother in law but I'm trying.  Trying to remember that words spoken can not be taken back.  That words spoken leave a lasting memory.  Even if it's a small thing it can leave a big mark

Now when I see gladiolas I don't think of funerals, I think of all the good stuff.  The growing up and older together.  The lesson learned and lived.  That forgiveness is powerful.  That there are sides to stories I still don't know but just accept.  And in the end love wins.  It always win.  That's God's plan.  Love anyway.

And laugh.  A lot.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Great Shirt Incident

First I'd like to say this wasn't intentional.

Friday night I received a text from my best friend.  It said " We have a mystery on our hands."

Her husband had to work that day but also had a doctor's appointment that afternoon so he took a change of clothes with him.  When he went to change this is what he saw.


 She went on to text " We have NO idea what happened. It was cut. Not torn.  1/4 of the back of his shirt is gone!

I responded with " Isn't that the shirt you gave me to practice sewing on?"
Breaking in my new machine 
the shirt I carefully hung on my chair. after surgery

Her response " OMG"

This is why men should hang up their clothes.  I never mistake one of my own shirts for practice material.  I have mistaken black bags of sweaters for Goodwill donations however.  Which is exactly how all of Bill's winter sweaters ended up being donated.  I couldn't tell the bags of old toys  from the "These are ALL MY SWEATERS IN THE WORLD  bag." when I was grabbing stuff out of the attic one day.  Or the time I was accused of intentionally leaving his suit at the cleaners and never picking it up.  In my defense I think we all knew it was past it's prime.  Still I am no longer in charge of dry cleaning.  I'm just heartbroken.
Men rarely find these kinds of mistakes funny.    But they are.

I did apologize.  I could sew it back on.  Next time I'm there .

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Couch Conversations

A conversation that took place last month.

A commercial showing a guy fly fishing comes on TV.

Me: I'd love to do that, Bill we should go fly fishing!
Laughter breaks out from my son and daughter.
Me: hey, I can fish.
Katie: I've heard you can skin a squirrel too.
Andrew: poor Dad, he's going to be getting hooked, literally. 
Me: I CAN FISH.  As long as there are no snakes.  Do you think there'll be snakes?  We should just go when it's cold so there won't be snakes.
Andrew:  What about bears? 
Me: Bears? Will there be bears? .  I could shoot a bear, but not with a pistol I heard those just piss them off.  I'll need something bigger. 
Andrew: This isn't looking good for Dad. 
Me: I wouldn't shoot Dad.
Bill: Not on purpose. 
Me: NOT AT ALL, I CAN FISH AND SHOOT. 
Andrew:  Better make sure your insurance policy is paid up.

Me: What are you doing over there?
Andrew:  Tweeting.  Hey Mom, you're trending.
Me: Trending what?
Andrew:  Sh*t my mom says.
Me:  I hate bears.